| About me : | Caribbean life news paper
PEOPLE & GARTH
Taking a stand against the [practice of genital mutilation
By Michelle Palmer
Year 2000 at the time it was four months after it was aired on the Oprah Show Garth
Byron Thompson presents his strong determination to form
ICAA INTL CULTURAL AWARENESS ASSOCAITES
By Michelle Palmer
Four months after it was aired on the Oprah Winfrey talk show Garth Byron Thompson, created is nonprofit organization which lead him to form a second entity a for profit also. He was watching the Oprah Winfrey show and what usually was a casual flip through the channels turn out to be one of the most shocking and disturbing shows Thompson have ever seen. The topic of show was female mutilation and the show exposed the harsh realities this practice has caused, including deaths of young women who get infections from this traditional rite of passage. Thompson, a native of Maroon TownSt. James Jamaica, West Indies, couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing and decided something must be done about it. Four months later, he is planning a major fundraising and awareness event to help organizations already engaged in the fight to end the dreadful practice. "I was devastated by this outrageous topic," Thompson said, in reference to the program on the Oprah Winfrey Show, "I thought that someone should do something to help make a change," Female mutilation is one of the oldest traditions practiced on the African continent for some; it's a "rite of passage" while for others, like Thompson, "it is wrong because you're causing death," For the past four months, Thompson, an entrepreneur and Founder and President of Net Move Garth Music Tour Inc , Plus Founder and President of Intl Cultural Awareness Associates Non Profit has been planning to produce a concert, featuring entertainers, writers and activists willing to speak out , against female mutilation and other public awareness issues
This tradition, which caused many African women to flee their native homelands and find refuge in distant lands, is carried out in secret What Thompson hopes to do is help raise awareness and bring this secret practice to the 'fore front '"People practice different beliefs because they want to control people and mutilating somebody is wrong," Thompson said. His main goal is to contribute funds raised at the concert to organizations such as Manhattan-based Equality Now, which works for the civil, political and social rights of women around the world, and to help supply equipment and medical supplies to hospitals in Jamaica. Working on deportees idealistic plans contacting renowned performers to possible sign his Intl Concerts Contract Agreement (s) creating ways to develop amateur’s talents and all this artists talks to diplomatic level and other mottos – concerts event s…..
"As a child growing up, 1 was always inspired by my late grandmother to do right and support those less fortunate than myself," said Thompson, who is taking the initiative to help people become more informed and aware of the dangers of female mutilation, "I think as a man, people might shy away from it, thinking it's a woman's issue," Thompson said, adding, "But it is also a man's issue, because we have wives, mothers and sisters, even daughters and it’s our concern to protect their rights, "Why would they want to take away something that's part of the body?" Thompson and five other members of a planning committee are lining up musicians, guest speakers, and community activist’s renowned performers and unsigned talent, as well as elected officials, to participate in the 2008 thru 2009 events. Already he has received support MySpace. Thompson is now contact Jamaican, UK, AND America STARS and friends. Thompson is talking to local government and writing Brooklyn Borough leaders and planning to contact other elected officials, Celebrity musicians, as well as big names in the civil rights movement. The group is also in search of sponsors, and several organizations have indicated. An interest in the venture… This movement is reviewing all INTL issues Aids, Cancer Homelessness, Hunger, other diseases domestic issues affairs. Etc |
